The army in Gabon has reopened state borders after the coup three days ago. A spokesperson said in a televised address that “land, sea and air borders will be reopened with immediate effect”.
The military seized power in the oil-rich country on Wednesday after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of last week’s controversial elections. Bongo has been in power since 2009, before which his father had ruled the country for 41 years. The military finds the results of the elections unreliable.
General Brice Oligui Nguema will be sworn in as interim president on Monday. He has announced that he wants to make the country more democratic, but also says he is in no hurry to call elections. Bongo has been placed under house arrest.
French colonies
Gabon is the seventh African country to have suffered a coup since 2020. After Niger, the Central African country is also the next in the list of former French colonies where a coup has taken place.
In Niger, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital Niamey yesterday to demand the departure of French troops still stationed there. A French army base is also located in Gabon. There has been international concern over the coups.
Three days ago, the deposed Gabonese president called out: ‘Make noise’
